168 THE NATURALIST. 



Chlora, Linn. Yellow-wort. 

 C. perfoliata, L. Perfoliate Yellow-wort, A. June — September. Ledstone, 

 (Mr. Eoberts,) "Went Yale, Kippax, Garforth. 



Order— CONYOLYULACE^. 

 Convolvulus. Linn. Bindweed. 

 C. arvensis, L. Small Bindweed. P. June — August. Common. 

 G. sepium, Br. Great Bindweed. P. June — September. Common. 



CuscuTA. Linn. Dodder. 

 C. europcea, L. Great Dodder. A. July — September. Lofthouse, para- 

 sitic on Galium (Mr. Eoberts.) • 



THE FOOD OF BIRDS. 



By the Rev. F. 0. Morris, B. A. 



No one, I think, but must admit that the invariable practice of good 

 Naturalists has been to raise their voice in the cause of humanity. In the 

 belief then that you will admit a few considerations on the above subject 

 which may be new to some of your readers, and plead in favour of our native 

 birds, subjected I fear, to most unjust destruction, I will trespass on your 

 space, if you will give me such leave, as briefly as I possibly can with that 

 object in view. 



'No one is better aware than I am that a cause often rather suffers than 

 gains from extreme and overstrained advocacy, and those who are acquainted 

 with my writings on Natural History, which the early favours of the public 

 have made so much more voluminous than I ever contemplated, will be well 

 aware that while I have never lost an opportunity of pleading for the poor 

 birds, whose misfortune has been that they have not had a more able 

 advocate, I have never concealed that they do some amount of damage 

 to our crops and gardens. 



Now, I will concede three points to those, who, as I think, and indeed 

 feel sure, are unduly prejudiced against the birds on accoimt of supposed, or 

 exaggerated depredations committed by them. 



First, that they do a certain amount of harm to our corn crops when 

 ripe in the fields, and to our garden fruits when ripe in the gardens. 



Second, that this evil cannot be prevented except by diligent watch- 

 fulness in the " tented field," and by constant care in our walled or open 

 gardens. 



